Adinkra stamp of the 'Akofena' (ceremonial sword) design, carved info a piece of calabash gourd. Parts b-c are two sticks from the handle (normally would be four). The gourd stamp (part a) has a deeply carved design of two crossed swords, with the blades curving across the top, the tips of the handles at the bottom corners. The back surface has four small holes for sticks.

• Narrative

  Collected by the donor in Ghana, in 1971.

• History Of Use

  Adinkra stamps are used for printing designs on cloth (e.g., K2.455). The stamps are dipped in adinkra aduru, an ink prepared by boiling chunks of iron slag and bark from the Bridelia ferruginea tree, locally called Badie, into a thick paste that is liquefied before use. The cloth is stamped at local workshops.

• Cultural Context

  textiles

---

• Type of Item stamp
• Culture Asante
• Material gourd fruit, wood
• Measurements height 1.0 cm, width 5.8 cm, depth 5.0 cm (part a) height 10.0 cm, width 0.2 cm, depth 0.1 cm (part b)

---

• Previous Owner Susan Stout
• Received from Susan Stout

---

• Made in Ghana

---

• Creation Date during 1971
• Collection Date during 1971
• Ownership Date before April 28, 2022
• Acquisition Date on April 28, 2022

---

• Condition good
• Accession Number 3561/0008 a-c